Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dektanga Pink’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Dektanga Pink’, characterized by its single-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped, pink-colored ray florets; strong and upright flowering stems; freely flowering habit; early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about 45 days after the start of photoinductive treatments; and good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance for about 23 days in an interior environment.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DEKTANGA PINK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Dektanga Pink’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new single-type Chrysanthemumcultivars with unique ray florets coloration and excellentpostproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Hensbroek, The Netherlands on Feb. 26, 2004 of a proprietaryselection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number02.6428.03, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as codenumber 41225, not patented. The cultivar Dektanga Pink was discoveredand selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant from within theprogeny of the state cross-pollination in a controlled environment inHensbroek, The Netherlands on Oct. 17, 2004.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in acontrolled environment in Hensbroek, The Netherlands since Nov. 2, 2004,has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Dektanga Pink have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Deksi2nclair’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Dektanga Pink’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Chrysanthemum:

-   -   1. Single-type inflorescences with elongated oblong-shaped,        pink-colored ray florets.    -   2. Strong and upright flowering stems.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Early and uniform flowering response; plants flower about 45        days after the start of photoinductive treatments.    -   5. Good postproduction longevity; plants maintain good substance        for about 23 days in an interior environment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum are most freely flowering        than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower earlier than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   3. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have fewer        ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the male parent        selection.    -   4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the male parent selection        differ in ray floret color as plants of the male parent        selection have darker pink-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum cultivar Deklindi White, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.17,815. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Hensbroek, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of thecultivar Deklindi White in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger        discs than inflorescences of plants of the cultivar Deklindi        White.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum had fewer        and shorter ray florets than inflorescences of plants of the        cultivar Deklindi White.    -   3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Deklindi        White differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the        cultivar Deklindi White had white-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum. These photographs show the colors as true asit is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of thistype. Colors in the photographs may differs slightly from the colorvalues cited in the detailed botanical description which accuratelydescribe the colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering stem of ‘Dektanga Pink’ grown as a spray type.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet are close-up views of theupper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences andleaves of ‘Dektanga Pink’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementionedphotographs and following observations and measurements describe plantsgrown during the winter in Hensbroek, The Netherlands, under commercialpractice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given longday/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatmentsto induce flower initiation and development. During the production ofthe plants, day temperatures ranged from 17.5° C. to 30° C., nighttemperatures ranged from 18.5° C. to 24° C. and light levels were aboutfive kilolux. Plants were about eight weeks from planting when thephotographs and the description were taken.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Dektanga    Pink.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number            02.6428.03, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum×morifolium identified as code number 41225,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About six to seven days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About 14 to 16 days at            20° C.        -   Root description/habit.—Fine; light brown in color; freely            branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type cut flower            that is typically grown as a spray-type. Moderately vigorous            growth habit.        -   Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About            65 cm. Spray diameter: About 10 cm to 15 cm. Diameter: About            5 mm. Number of lateral branches: About five or six.            Internode length: About 1 cm. Texture: Pubescent;            longitudinally ridged. Color: Close to 146A.        -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 3.5 cm to 7 cm. Width: About 1.5 cm to 3 cm. Apex:            Cuspidate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed; sinuses            parallel to convergent. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent, slightly rough; veins prominent on lower surface.            Color: Developing foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A.            Developing foliage, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully            expanded foliage, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 147B. Fully expanded foliage, lower surface: Close            to 147B; venation, 147B. Petiole: Length: About 5 mm to            1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Texture, upper            surface: Smooth. Texture, lower surface: Slightly rough.            Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface:            Close to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescence form with elongated            oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on            terminals, arising from leaf axils. Ray and disc florets            develop acropetally on a capitulum. Inflorescences slightly            fragrant.        -   Flower response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower in            the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times            of the year, inflorescence initiation and development can be            induced under short day/long night conditions (at least 13.5            hours of darkness). Early and uniform flowering response;            plants exposed to two weeks of long day/short night            conditions after planting followed by photoinductive short            day/long night conditions flower about 45 days later when            grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment,            inflorescences and foliage will maintain good color and            substance for about 23 days.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—When grown as a spray type,            freely flowering habit, about twelve inflorescences per            flowering stem develop.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 2 cm to 2.2 cm. Depth            (height): About 7 mm. Disc diameter: About 8 mm. Receptacle            height: About 3 mm. Receptacle diameter: About 3 mm.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Oblate. Height: About 2 mm to            3 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Ray florets.—Length: About 6 mm to 8 mm. Width: About 3 mm            to 5 mm. Shape: Oval to oblong. Angle: Initially upright to            about 30° from vertical. Apex: Rounded to tridentate. Base:            Attenuate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 15            to 18 arranged in a single whorl. Color: When opening, upper            surface: Close to 77B. When opening, lower surface: Close to            75B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 77C. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 76C.        -   Disc florets.—Shape: Tubular, elongated. Length: About 4 mm.            Diameter: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets per            inflorescence: About 150. Color: Immature: Apex: Close to            144B. Mid-section: Close to 154B. Base: Close to 145D.            Mature: Apex: Close to 3B. Mid-section and base: Close to            145C.        -   Involucral bracts.—Length: About 5 mm. Width: About 3 mm.            Shape: Oval. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded to truncate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Number            of ray florets per inflorescence: About 20 arranged in about            two whorls. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A. Color,            lower surface: Close to 137C.        -   Peduncles.—Length, first peduncle: About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.            Length, fourth peduncle: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm to            1.5 mm. Angle: About 30° from vertical. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture: Pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color:            Close to 137B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed. Gynoecium:            Present on both ray and disc florets. Style length: About 3            mm to 4 mm. Style color: Close to 145D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common to    Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grown under    commercial conditions.

1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Dektanga Pink’ asillustrated and described.